Words of Wisdom

The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things. - Henry Ward Beecher

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather a skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, throughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW! What a ride!" - Hunter S. Thompson

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great. - Mark Twain

The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said. - Peter F. Drucker

25 November 2009

Wishcasting Wednesday: Steps

Years
ago I was given advice by a woman with five children, spaced roughly
the same as mine, but her youngest was able to babysit my eldest. She
had always had a high-powered, big control, well-paying career, up
until she had children. At that point she gave it all up to stay home
and care for the little beasts. When I met her she was trying to figure
out whether or not she should go back to work. And, if she did, what
would she do? After all, at that point she had been out of the system
for over 20 years.

Her
advice was that she should have continued to work until her eldest was
around 12 - when he stopped speaking to her. She was probably right. My
circumstance was a bit different and I did stay home with the intention
of always staying home. Though, now that my kids are 13, 12, 10 and 9,
I find myself getting a bit stir-crazy surrounded by laundry and
household projects all the time.

Though
I do understand what she meant, and it is through this period of
hormones, angst and anxiety that I have my greatest challenge as
parent. I have to listen more, talk less and just be here for all of
them.

My next step?

My
wish is for something that will provide challenge and fulfillment while
still giving me quality time with my family while they no longer speak
to me.

Comments

Years
ago I was given advice by a woman with five children, spaced roughly
the same as mine, but her youngest was able to babysit my eldest. She
had always had a high-powered, big control, well-paying career, up
until she had children. At that point she gave it all up to stay home
and care for the little beasts. When I met her she was trying to figure
out whether or not she should go back to work. And, if she did, what
would she do? After all, at that point she had been out of the system
for over 20 years.

Her
advice was that she should have continued to work until her eldest was
around 12 - when he stopped speaking to her. She was probably right. My
circumstance was a bit different and I did stay home with the intention
of always staying home. Though, now that my kids are 13, 12, 10 and 9,
I find myself getting a bit stir-crazy surrounded by laundry and
household projects all the time.

Though
I do understand what she meant, and it is through this period of
hormones, angst and anxiety that I have my greatest challenge as
parent. I have to listen more, talk less and just be here for all of
them.

My next step?

My
wish is for something that will provide challenge and fulfillment while
still giving me quality time with my family while they no longer speak
to me.

Random: Cool Stuff

Where I Buy Fun Supplies

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